Why would it be a knife anywhere? Because nostalgia? Because even the Pops bailed on the sinking ship that is the Dragon’s Den?

Sam could side with his brother to run the shop how he wants, to ensure that the spirit that is the local gaming community stays intact, instead of cliquing up like adolescent teenagers to say that how one group of friends plays games is better than the other group. Sure, Dove is a dick, but Lee is willing to edge him out just for the opportunity to partner with Sam. This isn’t some cold calculated move to capitalize on a poor situation that is the Dragon’s Den, this is an opportunity for everyone to get what they want, but like anything in life opportunity often takes sacrifice: in this case the sacrifice is the name and location of the Dragon’s Den. A building does not embody the spirit of an entire gaming community, it’s just walls and floor and ceiling, many which are probably crumbling as they speak.

Sam could ensure not only his future, but the future of the local gaming scene with a successful business with his bother’s business savvy worrying about the big picture and financials. Sometimes to ensure continued growth of the community you have to get out of a selfish shell that is nostalgia and focus on what’s important: the future. Maybe half of Sam’s problem is that he’s so inwardly focused that he doesn’t take into account that he can be a force of good for the local gaming community by being in a key position in the only gaming store in town.

Dragon’s Den is just a name and a building, and Lee is offering Sam partnership in a prime retail location, in a prime position to be a positive force in the community, with the ability to retain the ability to preserve the spirit of the local gaming scene. Which up till now has been very antagonistic, a very toxic atmosphere when often real gaming communities are actually very inviting.

If Lee were making the offer out of a sincere wish to have a partnership with Sam and run a really great gaming shop, it could be a wonderful idea. But then, why not invest into the Dragon’s Den instead of a former competitor?

Because the whole offer is bound up in a package of “fuck you, Pops”, it’s tainted. Lee has put Sam into a horrible position, even if he didn’t entirely intend to. But Lee would have to be incredibly dense for all of this to be coming from well-intended ignorance (plus we have to overlook the limo scene with Dove from before). At this point in the narrative, it feels more like his intent was to manipulate Sam, very calculated. Not to say Lee is necessarily irredeemable, as he can have a personal growth arc, but this doesn’t feel like anything close to a healthy family or business relationship at the moment.

(Dallas is probably making that face not because she feels betrayed, but because she’s undoubtedly lived through a very bleak period of being overwhelmed by negative self talk and recognizes it.)

Beckylunatic. dead on the nail there. If he wanted Sam to be manager, he would have backed Sam when Pops stood away – steady store, already running, family business rep, bragging rights 20yrs from car to thriving store, and not betting on Dove who might be skilled in games but isn’t really a people person.

I’d say Dallas is probably shocked that Sam wouldn’t just say “no way” considering how Lee has treated Lee in the past. More of a “you’ve got to be kidding” look – especially since Sam was so happy to take over the Den.

You’re right about Lee, Fred. You don’t “gotcha” business partners, that’s shitty.

But I wasn’t being implicit about sneering. I was being explicit through citing the immaturity of cliquing up by comparing it to “adolescent teenagers”. I make no attempt to hide my disdain for people who treat others like shit.

I’ve know Bretts and Doves in the world. They aren’t good people. They treat people like shit to make themselves feel better about themselves, making fun of others because of their emotional shortcomings by ragging on others for not playing the game they play, or not having encyclopedic knowledge of their own favorite settings. Sure, Brett is an asshole with a heart of gold, but I’ve heard people say things that Brian wrote for Brett from people who are just shitty people.

I’ve heard people say how inviting the roleplaying community can be, but I’ve been to games and conventions all over and I have been treated extremely poorly by a lot of people for inane bullshit, like playing the ‘wrong’ roleplaying game, or mispronouncing famous character names. I don’t find elitism an attractive trait in any community, and I will actively rail against people being treated like shit in all forms.

doughnut; Sam’s not an equal partner. He’s just a tool to prove a brief point. He will get absolutely no say in Lee’s business, and none his ideas will ever be taken on. Sam would have more respect and luck working for Dove! With Lee, Sam will always just be the bargining point, all the ideas “will be just like your Dad, whose store you ditched”, everything will be “if you don’t do it my way then leave, you dumped dad, you dumped the den, you’re always a loser”
Only way out is to stand on his own feet. Even if the Den goes under, at least Sam was man enough to try and learn – and if it works, then it works because what Sam did, not Lee.

I went back to see if there had been any previous mention of this, nothing, and in the first strip Amy is still in his phone background. So I’m guessing “Amy leaving” doesn’t refer to her leaving recently, but rather to her leaving soon.

Yeah, I know what that’s like. For me, the worst periods of this are always around 1:00 AM, when I’m trying to sleep. The only answer I’ve found is to keep working towards some goal, whatever it might be.

I mean even if he was dead set against giving up on the Dragon Den, saying “I’ll think about it.” is the right choice. Ask for the legal terms of the partnership. Consider your options. And most of all, think about your relationship with your brother! You don’t go to war without knowing the battlefield, or even who exactly you are going to war with.

I think if you are Sam you *have* to think about it. As much as Lee might be a twatwaffle, he’s making Sam an offer that may be too good to pass up. Having a deep-pocketed backer can help you through the lean times, and also you get to stick it to Dove in the meantime.

can i just say, im not a huge fan of how the artstyle has changed. like, i do like how much more crisp and well defined the characters are, but their faces are kinda defined by a bunch of lines now and it makes them look really old.

I’ve already said that I believe I was reading the central cast as too young previously. And when the strip was more joke-a-day, cast age group wasn’t really relevant anyway, but there is a big difference to feeling like you don’t have your life together when you’re in your 20s than in your 30s. So I think it’s really important to the storyline to establish that Sam is an adult. I don’t think he looks *that* old, but that may be the opinion of my own wrinkles and grey hairs.

Go to any comic strip or online comic you frequent, and pull up the first strips. Wow, huh?

Comic style evolution is built into comics. It’s not a bug, it’s a feature. And it’s good to remember that most online comics are just somebody nice enough to let the rest of us into their imaginations for free.

That said, I like the way they drew Gabe and Tycho better a couple of years ago.

I don’t know if any of you have seen the movie, but I am so reminded by Revolver with this storyline. I don’t want to spoil the movie, but it’s a Guy Ritchie film, very interesting storytelling and very thought provoking, at least based on the various analysis and references I see online.

I have and that’s an interesting comparison to make. I own the movie and love it. And it’s… somewhat accurate and apt.

I have my own inner demons. Going through a divorce and it has shattered what little confidence I have. I know exactly where Sam is coming from. THIS, THIS is why I love this comic and read it. Thanks Brian, you are awesome man!

As a fellow sufferer of depression, I’d like to thank you for yet another dead of depiction of the illness. It isn’t ‘extreme sadness’ as everyone seems to want to paint it, but an absolutely crippling self doubt. You don’t want to get out of bed because you KNOW you’ll fail at something if you do. If feel for Sam, and if he gives up the Dragon’s Den because of his illness…well, I’ve done that too (metaphorically speaking of course). He’s not betraying anyone. it’s depression. It sucks.

P.S. If anyone told Picasso of Hemingway of even George RR Martin that they didn’t like how they’d changed as an artist or that their early stuff was better, we’d still be looking for the body. You do you. Go Sam.